Indian Navy-Vietnam navy Bilateral Exercise

Indian Navy undertook the second edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Vietnam Peoples’ Navy at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing Overseas Deployment of Eastern Fleet ships to South East Asian countries.

IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti participated in the exercise comprising a harbour and a sea phase.

Highlights: –

The Indian Navy and the Vietnam Peoples’ Navy have traditionally shared good relations.

Conduct of the bilateral exercise on an annual basis would give a further fillip to the existing strong bilateral relation between the two countries, which since Sep 16 have been elevated to the level of ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ after the visit of the India’s PM to Vietnam.

The Navy to Navy cooperation involves a Composite Training Programme in the fields of Submarine, Aviation and Dockyard training.

The two countries have also signed an agreement to exchange White Shipping Information and have a running ‘Information Sharing’ programme.

The Indian Navy-Vietnam Peoples’ Navy Bilateral Exercise is a significant step in further strengthening mutual confidence and inter-operability as well as sharing best practices between the Indian and the Vietnam Peoples’ Navies.

What is Cam Ranh Bay?

Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa Province.

It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Since 2011-2014, Vietnamese authorities have hired Russian consultants and purchased Russian technologies to re-open Cam Ranh Bay (a former United States and later Soviet military base) as the site of a new naval maintenance and logistics facility for foreign warships.

Historical background: –

Cam Ranh Bay was the largest Soviet naval base outside the Soviet Union, allowing it to project increased power in the East Sea.

Russia expanded the base to four times its original size and often made mock attacks in the direction of the Philippines.

Analysts suggested that the Vietnamese side also saw the Soviet presence there as a counterweight against any potential Chinese threat.

Russia continued use of the base for signal intelligence, primarily on Chinese communications in the South China Sea.

On October 7, 2016 Russia indicated it was reconsidering its departure from naval facilities in Vietnam.

India’s Naval Base in Cam Ranh bay: –

Having good relations with India, whom it regards as a ‘strategic partner’, Hanoi has granted exclusive access to Indian Naval Ships to use the Nha Trang Port.

The Indian Navy has been making regular visits to this southern Vietnamese port, and Vietnam has even asked India to develop this naval facility.

India and Vietnam have a stake in ensuring the security of sea lanes and share concerns about China’s access to the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Vietnam sees a partner in India to fight off China in the troublesome South China Sea.

It is estimated that there is 24.7 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas and 4.4 billion barrels of oil waiting to be tapped within the area in the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam and contested by China.